A MAN who stabbed his wife 21 times had “flipped” after reaching boiling point, a court heard.

The jury at Birmingham Crown Court was told yesterday that Damian Fincher, of Highgate Street, Birmingham, had not planned to kill Gabrielle Chapman when he went round to her house in Rugby on July 31 last year.

But 45 year-old Fincher, whose life was described as a “real mess”, lost control. He denies murder,

Asking the jury to return a verdict of manslaughter, David Mason QC, defending, said: “We all agree what happened that night was truly dreadful. We know he killed his wife but it is why and how he did it that really matters.

“Fincher’s life was in a real mess at this time, perhaps without even knowing it he had reached boiling point and when Gabi did what she did that night he flipped.”

Fincher had earlier told the court he had gone round to Gabrielle’s house after taking a cocktail of drugs and alcohol to pick up his belongings after deciding their marriage was over.

But he said she returned home unexpectedly and tried to seduce him and when he refused she came at him with a knife and he blacked out.